Reel container



' Nov. 2-5, 1969 M. D. WADDINGTON 3,480,134

REEL CONTAINER Filed Jan. 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAX D. WADDINGTON BY flab 4 ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1969 M. o. WADDINGTON 3,430,134

' REEL CONTAINER Filed Jan. 19, 1967 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 31 4: 4s 4r s9 44 INVENTOR. MAX D. WADDINGTON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,480,134 REEL CONTAINER Max D. Waddington, Opelika, Ala., assignor to Ampex Corporation, Redwood City, 'Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 19, 1967, Ser. No. 610,353 Int. Cl. B65d 85/67; B65h 75/02 U.S. Cl. 206-52 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-part container that clamps onto a reel of tape or film, so as to prevent rotation or rattling of the reel within the container. Each of the two container parts has an arbor portion fitting within the hub of the reel, and a rotating hand grip on one of the arbors operates an extending detent element to first latch the two container parts loosely together, and then draw them axially together and into tight clamping engagement with the sides of the reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field Special receptacles and packages, particularly inclosed roll or spool packages.

Prior art U.S. Patents 3,004,658 and 3,074,546 show reel containers that, despite their other advantages, have been found in practice to permit a certain amount of looseness in the fit of the reel inside the container, so that rattling and banging of the reel and damage thereto results, or else the reel rotates and the tape unwinds during shipping or handling. While either of these prior art containers may be proportioned to snugly fit a particular reel, they cannot be adjusted to fit reels of slightly varying dimensions, such as are often encountered in practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a two-part container that snugly holds any of a number of different sized reels so as to prevent rotation and rattling of the reel inside. Accordingly, arbor portions are formed on each of the two container parts and are spaced axially apart in the closed condition of the container, and means are provided to draw the two arbors together during the locking process, so as to clamp the reel between the two container parts, despite variations in the axial dimension of the reel.

THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is an exploded right-side-up perspective view of a reel and container according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragment exploded bottomside-up perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom-side-up elevation view of the apparatus of FIGURE 2 in assembled relation;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view taken from the top of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3, showing the apparatus in a different operating position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4, showing the apparatus in the operating position of FIG- URE 5;

3,480,134 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 "ice FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURES 3 and 5, showing the apparatus in a different operating position;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4, showing the apparatus in the operating position of FIG- URE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is an exploded fragmented perspective view showing a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGURE 1 shows a typical magnetic tape reel 11 having a hub 12 and a reel container comprising a bottom part 13 and a top part 14. The bottom part 13 has a flat circular bottom wall 16 and a right circular cylindrical peripheral side wall 17, interrupted by notches 18 to enable hand grasping of the reel inside; also a central arbor portion 19 fitting inside the hub 12. The container top part 14 has a flat circular top wall 21 and a right circular cylindrical peripheral side wall 22, fitting around and outside the wall 17 of the bottom part. The top part 14 also has a central arbor portion 23 (FIGURES 2 and 3) fitting inside the hub 12 of the reel 11. Also locking means 24 are provided on the arbor portions 19, 23 to hold the two parts 13, 14 together.

It will be noticed that the reel hub 12 is of a type having a smooth interior surface, uninterrupted by keyways for controlling the rotation of the reel on the .arbors. Consequently, means are desired to prevent rotation of the reel inside the container and unwinding of the tape during shipping. Also it is desirable to keep the walls 16, 17, 21, 22 out of contact with the reel to avoid damaging the reel when the container suflfers shock or damage. Accordingly, a pair of circular rubber or soft elastic rings 26, 27, of L-shaped cross section, are fitted around the joints between elements 16, 19 and 21, 23 to cushion the reel and maintain the desired spacing. These rings alone are not sufiicient, however, to prevent rotation of the reel, particularly when there is variation from reel to reel in the diametrical and axial dimension of the hub 12. Accordingly, the invention provides means for clamping the reel tightly between the two parts of the container, to prevent rotation of the reel no matter what its size. More particularly, as shown in FIGURE 3, the arbor portions 19, 23 are spaced axially apart in the closed condition of the container, and the locking means 24 are adapted to draw the two arbor portions and the central parts of walls 16, 21 together to clamp the reel. The peripheral portions of the walls 16, 21 are of course always spaced apart by .at least one of the walls 17, 22, and consequently, the arbor portions 19, 23 are also spaced apart in the closed but unlocked condition of the container, whether or not the reel is inside.

The structure of the locking means is as follows. Arbor portion 19 has an axial opening 28 defined by an inwardly extending circular flange 29, and arbor portion 23 has transparent cylindrical portion 31 extending axially through the opening 28 in the closed condition of the container. A pair of detent elements 32 are mounted in the cylindrical portion 31 for extension parallel to and overlapping the flange 29 (FIGURES 5, 6), so as to prevent separation of the container parts, followed by movement of the extended portions of the detent elements axially and into clamping engagement with the flange 29 (FIGURES 7 and 8). The extension and clamping action of the detent elements 32 is controlled by a centrally mounted rotating hand grip 33, formed as a cup-shaped cylindrical element 34 that fits loosely and rotatably within the extending portion 31 of the arbor 23, and having a diametrical hollow finger grip 36 formed in the cupped side so as to face outwardly from the container for grasping by the operator.

During a first predetermined locking rotation of the hand grip 33, through about 45 degrees as shown by FIGURES 36, the detent elements 32 are caused to extend outward, as by means of a first cam means 37 extending from the hand grip 33 and engaging notches 38 in the detent elements.

During a second predetermined locking rotation of about 45 degrees following the first rotation of 45 degrees, the hand grip 33 causes the desired axial movement of the detent element, as shown in FIGURES -8. Particularly, a second cam means 39 extending from the hand grip engages the inner end of the detent element and causes it to pivot, in a plane parallel to the axis of the container, about a fulcrum means 41, so that the extended tip of the detent element moves axially toward, and with pressure engages, the flange 29, drawing the two arbors 19, 23 together and clamping the reel tightly between the rings 26, 27.

In its extension and pivoting motion, the detent element 32 is guided between a pair of tracks 42, 43 that are mounted on the extension 31 of the arbor portion 23. The outward extension of the detent element 32 is limited by a first stop means 44 formed on the detent element and engaging the fulcrum 41. The detent element is also positively retained in its outwardly extended and pivoted position (FIGURE 7) by a second stop means 46 formed on the extension 31 of arbor portion 23. It will be noted that the cam 37 is shaped to hold the detent element in its extended position during the pivoting motion of the detent element, until the element comes into alignment with stop 46.

When it is desired to unlock the container of the invention, the hand grip 33 is rotated 90 degrees in a reverse direction, clockwise as shown in FIGURES 4, 6 and 8. To cause reverse pivoting motion of the detent element i.e., from the position of FIGURE 7 to the position of FIGURE 5, a third cam means 47 is provided extending from the hand grip 33 and engaging the detent element 32. The necessary retraction of the detent element is accomplished by the cam 37 engaging the notch 38 in the detent element. Reverse rotation of the hand grip is limited by a third stop means 48 formed on the hand grip and engaging the detent element in the unlocked position of the hand grip and locking means, FIGURE 4.

The mechanical assembly of the rotating and stationary portions of the locking means is shown in FIGURES 2 and 9. The cylindrical extension 31 of the arbor 23 has a central hollow tubular member 49, around which fits a central opening 51 of the grip 33. A pin member 52 having a split shaft 53 with an enlarged tip 54 is passed through the interior of member 49 and snap-fits therein as by engagement of the enlarged tip 54 with a narrowed collar flange 56 within the member 49. The pin 52 has a head 57 that retains the grip 33 on the member 49; and because of the snap fit described, the head 57 is in tight frictional engagement with the facing surface of grip 33. This feature is taken advantage of to help hold the hand grip in the locked and unlocked positions. As shown in FIGURE 9, the head 57 has a pair of sectorshaped raised lands 58 formed thereon facing the grip 33, and the confronting surface of the grip has a pair of mating grooves 59 and 61 at 90-degree angles, corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of the grip. Also the head 57 is keyed to the member 49 as by a key 62 formed on the member and fitting into a keyway 63 in the head 57. Thus the arrangement provides a snap-action detent means causing the hand grip 33 to remain in the locked and unlocked positions when less than a predetermined minimum rotational force is applied to the hand grip.

OPERATION In operation, the reel 11 is placed in the container as shown in FIGURE 1, and the two container halves 13, 14 are brought together as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The hand grip 33 is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction (FIGURE 4), causing the cams.37 to urge the detents 32 outwardly to the flange overlapping position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, and then to pivot about the fulcrums 41 as urged by the cams 39, to the position of FIGURES 7 and 8, engaging the flange 29 and drawing the two arbors 19, 23 together so as to clamp the reel 11 tightly between the rings 26, 27. To open the container, the hand grip 33 is rotated in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 8), and the detents 32 are first pivoted by the cams 47 about the fulcrums 41 away from the flange 29 to the position of FIGURES 5 and 6, and are then withdrawn inwardly by the cams 37, to the unlocked position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reel container of the type formed in two parts each with a central arbor portion fitting inside a corresponding reel hub, and locking means on the arbor portions for holding the two parts together, the improvement wherein:

a first of the arbor portions has an axial opening defined by an inwardly extending circular flange forming part of the locking means;

the locking means on the second arbor portion includes means extending axially through the opening in the closed condition of the container, and at least one detent element mounted on the last-named extending means for extension parallel to and overlapping the flange so as to prevent separation of the two container parts; and

means are provided to cause the extension of the detent element followed by movement of the extended portion of the element axially toward and into clamping engagement with the flange.

' 2. The combination recited in claim 1, further characterized in that:

the two parts of the container include a peripheral side wall causing the central arbor portions to be spaced apart whether or not the reel is inside; and

said last-named means is arranged to draw said arbor portions axially toward one another during said extension of said detent element so as to clamp the reel between the two parts of the container.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, further characterized in that the locking means on the second arbor portion includes:

a centrally mounted rotating hand grip facing outwardly from the container;

first cam means extending from the hand grip and engaging the detent element to cause the extension thereof during a first predetermined rotation of the hand grip; and

second cam means extending from the hand grip and engaging the detent element to cause the axial movement of the extended portion thereof during a second predetermined rotation of the hand grip following the first predetermined rotation during locking of the container.

4. A tape reel container comprising:

a first and second section each having an outer peripheral side wall and an inner recessed portion having axial walls to form a reel hub supporting portion;

said first section recessed portion being open and having a radially inwardly extending flange, the inner recess of the said second section extending through said opening in the recess of the first section;

said axial wall of the inner recess of the second section having openings formed therein adjacent to the inwardly extending flange of the first section;

a locking means and manually rotating means positioned within the recess of the second section;

a plurality of separate and independent lock members slidably supported by the locking means, said lock members being slidable through and retracted from the opening in the axial side wall of the recess of the 10 second section; and

a cam means in the locking means tilting the locking members into and out of engagement with the inwardly extending flange of the recess in the first section when the locking means is rotated to a locked or unlocked position.

1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,859,868 11/1958 Jaworski et al. 206-59 'FOREIGN PATENTS 22,221 1914 Great Britain.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

